NATO chief Rutte presses Britain to show yearly defence spending increases

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has told the UK it must demonstrate yearly increases toward its 3.5% of GDP defence target rather than wait until 2035.

• Rutte met Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Didcot on Wednesday, then Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in London on Thursday.
• Rutte said the 2035 target could not be met "in one go in 2034" and that Britain required "yearly increments" toward the goal.
• Rutte said the exact pathway would be set out in next year's spending review, expressing confidence that UK ministers accepted the need for gradual increases.
• Rutte said defence spending should be kept separate from welfare, arguing that economic growth was key to meeting military commitments.